Berkshire United Way

What Berkshire United Way does

Berkshire United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1924 and headquartered at 200 South Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It serves Berkshire County, Massachusetts through a Community Impact Investment Model adopted in 2009, focusing on three strategic priorities: household stability, school and career readiness, and mental health. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Mass211 24/7 helpline and Call2Talk mental health line, food access and meal site navigation, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) for low-income households, Berkshire Book Houses + Born Learning Trails early literacy initiatives, workforce resources, and community convenings. It is staffed by 1-10 employees under President and CEO Katherine von Haefen and is an affiliate of United Way Worldwide.

The organization's core technology consists of a website (berkshireunitedway.org), the 413cares.org online resource directory, donor and campaign management systems, and direct-referral helplines. It does not offer APIs, software products, or proprietary technology platforms. Berkshire United Way functions as a backbone coordinator for the regional human services ecosystem, connecting residents to 28 funded partner organizations and 104 supported nonprofits across the county.

Berkshire United Way generates revenue exclusively through charitable donations, with no fees charged for services. Revenue streams include annual fundraising campaigns with challenge gift matching (e.g., McGraw challenge gift), workplace giving programs, individual donations, corporate partnerships, event-based fundraising, and grants. In its most recent reporting period, the organization invested $1,001,500 in 28 partner organizations, positively impacted 18,143 neighbors, and mobilized 6,800 volunteer hours from 1,400 volunteers. Corporate sponsors include Berkshire Health Systems, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Adams Community Bank, Hillcrest, Main Street Hospitality, and Mirabito.

Name

Berkshire United Way

Legal name

Berkshire United Way Inc.

Website

https://berkshireunitedway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Berkshire United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Pittsfield, Massachusetts that mobilizes donations and volunteers to fund 28 partner organizations serving Berkshire County residents across household stability, school and career readiness, and mental health priorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Community services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Social services coordination
• Volunteer engagement
• Community resource navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising Campaigns: Primary revenue comes from annual fundraising campaigns including workplace giving programs, individual donations, corporate partnerships, and event-based fundraising. The organization runs annual campaigns with challenge gifts to match donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Berkshire United Way is a nonprofit community-services organization that mobilizes charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and volunteer resources to fund and coordinate programs addressing early childhood literacy, positive youth development, economic prosperity, household stability, mental health, and school and career readiness for Berkshire County residents. It operates as a community-impact investment organization, convening local nonprofits, funding 28 partner agencies, and providing direct service referrals through Mass211, Call2Talk, community navigators, and the 413cares.org online resource directory.

Product overview

Berkshire United Way is a nonprofit community services organization operating as a unified platform of interconnected programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core offering centers on community impact through convening, resource navigation, and direct service delivery. Key programs include Mass211 + Call2Talk (24/7 information and mental health crisis helpline), Food Access & Meal Sites (connecting residents to food pantries and nutrition programs), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (free tax prep for low-income households), Berkshire Book Houses + Born Learning Trails (early literacy initiative), Workforce Resources (job search and career development), and convenings for nonprofit professional development. These programs collectively address the organization's strategic priorities of Household Stability, School and Career Readiness, Mental Health, and Community Convening. The organization also facilitates donations and volunteer engagement but does not offer a technology platform, API, or software product for external use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Access & Meal Sites Connects Berkshire County residents to food pantries, meal sites, mobile food banks, farmers markets with SNAP/HIP matching, and summer meal programs for children.
• Mass211 + Call2Talk A 24/7 information and referral hotline connecting callers to health and human services; Call2Talk provides mental health emotional support and suicide prevention via phone (988) and text (C2T to 741741).
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free tax preparation for households earning $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, seniors, and limited English speakers, offered through Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.
• Berkshire Book Houses + Born Learning Trails Free little libraries providing 24/7 access to books for children throughout Berkshire County, accompanied by interactive outdoor learning signs for families.
• Workforce Resources Job search assistance, career development resources, and connections to MassHire Berkshire Career Center, Berkshire Innovation Center, and Western MA Educational Opportunity Center.
• Convenings Regularly hosted networking and training sessions for early learning educators, program staff, and community navigators to build collaboration and shared learning across Berkshire County nonprofits.
• Mental Health Initiatives Support for mental health services including promoting the Call2Talk helpline, funding family support programs, and conducting landscape analyses of mental health providers.
• School and Career Readiness Investments in quality childcare, home visitation programs, mentoring, after-school programs, and youth development to ensure children ages 0-5 have strong starts and youth are prepared for life after high school.
• Household Stability Programs addressing basic household needs including food support, housing resources, financial mobility assistance, and connections to employment and job skills development.
• Donate / Give Back Online donation platform enabling individuals and corporations to contribute to Berkshire United Way's community initiatives, including workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, and planned giving.
• Volunteer Management Programs connecting community members to volunteer opportunities across Berkshire County, including corporate volunteer matching and event-based volunteering.
• Community Navigators Community navigators at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity help neighbors connect to resources including unemployment assistance, housing, fuel assistance, legal services, food services, elder and child services, and disability assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,143 neighbors positively impacted by BUW's work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greylock Federal Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreylock Federal Credit Union partners with BUW on community events including annual Shred Day, which raised over $3,000 for BUW in 2025. This partnership supports mutual community strengthening goals.
• MassHire Berkshire Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUW directs workforce resources and job seekers to MassHire Berkshire Career Center for employment services, job training, and career development support in Berkshire County.
• Central Berkshire Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat for Humanity houses BUW's community navigators who help neighbors access resources including housing, unemployment assistance, fuel assistance, and legal services. BUW also supports Habitat's VITA tax preparation program.
• NAMI Berkshire CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUW partners with NAMI Berkshire County on mental health initiatives, including promoting the Well-Being Guide of the Berkshires and supporting expansion of mental health services in schools.
• The Brien CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brien Center is a key partner in BUW's mental health priority area, providing crisis services and working with BUW on a directory for mental health resources. In 2023, The Brien Center served over 1,500 individuals.
• ServiceNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServiceNet operates The Pearl shelter (40-bed facility) and provides emergency housing services. BUW convenes community navigators including ServiceNet staff to coordinate housing resources.
• Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCAC provides heating and fuel assistance, weatherization, and home energy services. BUW connects residents to BCAC through convenings and referrals, supporting household stability.
• UpSide413coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpSide413 operates the Tenancy Preservation Program, supporting individuals facing eviction due to disability. BUW features UpSide413 at navigation convenings on housing topics.
• Berkshire Innovation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUW hosts navigation convenings at the Berkshire Innovation Center venue and shares job openings from BIC member companies through workforce resources.
• 413carescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner413cares is an online platform (initiative of Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts) that BUW promotes to connect Berkshire residents to free and low-cost services. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission serves on the advisory committee.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUW is an affiliate of United Way Worldwide, which provides brand standards, Mass211 infrastructure, and access to the MyFreeTaxes self-prep tax platform for taxpayers earning $71,000 or less.
• Berkshire Country Day SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUW President and CEO Katherine von Haefen speaks to middle school students about nonprofit careers and community impact, inspiring future community engagement.
• Corporate Sponsors (BHS, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Adams Community Bank, Hillcrest, Main Street Hospitality, Mirabito)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple corporate sponsors support BUW through donations, event sponsorships, and workplace campaigns. Featured on BUW's website as Thank You sponsors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkunitedway
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerkshireUW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkshire-united-way

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berkshire United Way